1/30/2003 @ 6:30PM

The Midas List

The Midas list seeks to identify individuals who deploy venture capital to create wealth for investors. Our ranking formula weighs most heavily the market capitalization of a venture-backed company on its first day of trading or the purchase price in an acquisition. Companies must have gone public or been acquired after June 1995 to be considered, and they must be engaged in the field of information technology or life sciences. Placement on the list also depends on a venture capitalist’s (or lawyer’s or recruiter’s) degree of involvement with a startup. Our results are based on extensive reporting and surveys sent to 600 professionals including VCs, angels, lawyers and bankers. This year we also polled limited partners in VC funds. Special thanks to VentureOne and the National Venture Capital Association.
This Way OutErika Brown Most venture capitalists are locked into failing enterprises, but the resourceful ones know where the exits are.